Diaper washer



Feb. 20, 1962 J. A. HARGRAVE 3,021,528

DIAPERWASHER Filed Nov. 2'7, 1959 INVENTOR JOHN A HARGRAVE ATTORNE United States Patent 3,021,528 DIAPER WASHER John A. Hargrave, 728 Greenway Drive, Hurst, Tex. Filed'Nov. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 855,848 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-1) This invention relates to diaper washers and more particularly to a washer adapted for use in a toilet wherein soiled articles, such as diapers, may be washed in the bowl and rinsed by the flushing action of the water discharged through the bowl. Specifically this invention relates to a unique toilet bowl diaper washing device which excludes the diaper from the drain passage while allowing water to pass therethrough.

It is a common expedient to rinse diapers by hand in the bowl of a toilet and by successive dippings to clear them of fecal matter. In order to perform this odious task it is often necessary to get ones hands into the water. This may cause either severe skin infection or produce rough, red, chapped skin. Also by such hand operation there is the everpresent danger of losing the grip on the diaper necessitating a fishing expedition to retrieve it or at worst a complete dismantling of the drainpipe if the drop occurs during flushing. The latter is more likely to occur since the flushing operation produces a high suction on the diaper.

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a device which may be placed in the bowl of the toilet which will enable one to rinse a diaper without any skin contact with the toilet bowl water.

A further object or" the instant invention is to provide a rinser for diapers and the like which will prevent any possibility of loss of the diaper into the drainpipe while not unduly restricting flow of water to the drain.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a unique diaper rinser which may be easily stored behind the toilet when not in use.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the discussion which follows:

Generally these objects are accomplished by providing a strainer formed from a single continuous member wound in the form of a conical spiral on which a chain or cord is mounted for attachment to the hinge or hinges of a toilet bowl lid.

The invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the instant invention attached to a toilet bowl shown partially in section;

FIG. 2 is a side detail view of the strainer and part of the flexible chain or cord attaching said strainer to the toilet; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the strainer.

Referring to these drawings wherein I have shown the present preferred embodiment of the invention. 1 utilize a conventional type toilet bowl having a rim 11, a lid 12 mounted on the rim 11 by hinges l3, and a discharge passage 14 connected to a normal waste flow pipe not shown. A standard water inlet, also not shown, is provided to supply a stream of water to the bowl when it is flushed.

My invention consists in a strainer 15 formed as a conical spiral of convolutions having successively diminished radius, said spiral being of such size as to be small enough to fit into the bowl 1! but large enough not to be passable through the discharge opening 14. This strainer is attached to the toilet bowl by a flexible chain or cord 16 "ice afiixed at one end by an eye 18 to the apex 20 of the strainer 15. This chain or cord is wrapped around the hinge or hinges 13 on the lid 12 and attached to itself by a clamp 17.

To amplify the description of the device of the instant invention, the strainer comprises a spiral conical configuration formed from any suitable material, either metallic, such as aluminum or steel, or non-metallic, such as nylon, plastic or rubber, all of which having stocks of substantially circular cross section. The chain or cord is made of similar materials although of course both need not be made of the same material. For example, the strainer may be made of plastic while the chain is of steel, or vice versa.

When the instant device is to be used, the chain or cord 16 is attached around the hinge or hinges 13 of the lid 12 and the strainer dropped into the bowl. Since the length of the chain or cord will be greater than the depth of the bowl, the strainer will rest on the discharge passage no matter what its size. A diaper is dropped into the strainer and the toilet flushed. If desired the chain or cord may be pulled up and down both before and during flushing to aid removal of fecal matter. When the flushing operation is completed, the chain or cord is pulled upwards and the diaper removed. Immediately thereafter, without delay for cleaning, another diaper may be inserted and the operation repeated. Delay for cleaning is not necessary since the circular cross section of the metallic or nonmetallic strainer provides no surface for attachment of fecal particles. When all of the diapers have been rinsed the strainer is lifted from the bowl and placed behind the toilet bowl where it remains suspended by the chain or cord which stays attached around the hinge or hinges. There the strainer when not in use will not be misplaced and will always be available merely by swinging it back into the toilet bowl.

The strainer of the instant invention may be subjected to extremely rough treatment since it requires no brackets which must stay in alignment to fit on the toilet rim. Furthermore, it may be dropped into the toilet without fear of its breaking or marring the sides of the bowl in that its open construction allows for extreme resiliency. Thus it dropped it will merely bounce and then resume its standard form.

This device may not only be used for diapers but may also be used to wash other soiled objects, such as dust rags and the like.

From the above description it will be apparent that the strainer of my invention will permit easy and safe washing of diapers and the like without endangering the washers skin and which will prevent clogging of the toilets discharge.

Having thus described my invention it is apparent that certain obvious changes may be made in the above embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense except by the language and meaning in the appended claim.

I claim:

An apparatus for rinsing diapers adapted to retain a diaper in a toilet bowl in the path of water projected through the bowl when flushed comprising, in combination; a strainer consisting of a single continuous wire wound to form a resilient conical spiral of convolutions having successively diminished diameters, said strainer at its widest dimension being adapted to rest on the discharge opening of said toilet bowl; and means for attaching said strainer to said toilet bowl including a flexible member attached at one of its ends to the apex of said conical strainer and provided with a clip secured to its other end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 306,603 Gilbert Oct. 14, 1884 Irv-w" n 

